The younger brother looked after him with an air of the most profound
astonishment.
"Well! one does not seem in danger of being spoiled by excessive
brotherly love," he remarked drily, turning towards Jessie.
"You must know your brother to a certain extent," she answered simply,
accustomed to see business take precedence of everything.
"Certainly! but in Europe he was a little more considerate. I thought I
had a claim on, at least, the first hour after my arrival."
"You must be tired after your journey," said Jessie, seeking for some
excuse for avoiding this equally unexpected and undesired
_tete-a-tete_. "Your rooms are ready if you would, perhaps"--
"Thanks, no!" interrupted Gustave; "I am not in the least tired, and
have really every cause to be grateful to Jenkins and Co. for procuring
me the pleasure of your company."
With that he drew a chair towards him, and sat down opposite to her.
But neither his serene and careless air, nor his prepossessing
appearance, succeeded in thawing the cold reserve of the young lady.
She was not surprised to find him considerably younger than her
guardian, as she knew he was the child of a second marriage. The elder
brother was, indeed, already past middle age, while the younger was
scarcely over thirty. On the whole, his exterior was exactly that
represented in the picture which hung in his brother's study. A
powerful, manly figure, agreeable, intelligent features, dark hair and
beard, and lively, sparkling dark eyes, which were distinctly fine and
expressive. But it was just those eyes which displeased Jessie, for she
felt instinctively that her whole character was being put to the proof
by them. The same observant glance which had met hers in the first
moment of their acquaintance rested steadily on her countenance. Mr.
Sandow, junior, was openly examining her, as the first paragraph of the
business contract clearly entitled him to do, and that was amply
sufficient to awake the most decided opposition in the mind of the
young lady. He began the conversation by remarking--
"I am unfortunately quite unacquainted with your home. I come, an
inexperienced European, as if fallen from the clouds into the new
world, and count upon your friendly support."
"I think you will find the help of your brother better, and more to be
relied on, than any I might venture to give."
"No doubt, as far as business affairs are concerned. Under all other
circumstances, however, he seems to me rather unapproachable, and then
there are some subjects with which I should like to make myself
acquainted by the way."
By the way! Yes, just so, by the way, so should a marriage be
considered a life-long bond which others are accustomed to regard as
the highest and holiest. The "inexperienced European" seemed to look on
life quite from his brother's point of view, and to consider such
relations as merely of secondary importance.
"But no doubt they are entirely business affairs which bring you here,"
said Jessie, not without irony. "As far as I know, you intend to enter
our firm?"
"Certainly! My brother has made that an indispensable condition."
"Condition! Were you not, then, free to act as you chose, Mr. Sandow?
But I forgot; no doubt it concerns the inheritance of your brother's
fortune."
The stab struck home; that was seen in the sudden flash of the dark
eyes, but it produced no other effect, for Gustave replied with the
most delightful candour--
"Quite right; the inheritance. It really was in jeopardy had I
declined. My brother was quite capable of leaving the whole of his
means to a philanthropical institution had I not obeyed his wishes."
Jessie hardly knew whether to be more surprised or annoyed at the
openness with which this man acknowledged that he had come to America
merely for the sake of the money. And this he declared before the woman
whose hand and fortune were both destined for him, and in whom
annoyance at last gained the upper hand as she replied--
"Till now I did not know that calculation was so well understood in
Germany."
"Oh! thank God at last we are becoming a practical people," said
Gustave, with unalterable composure. "We have been long about it, but
now we are making undeniable progress. You seem to consider it a
reproach, Miss Clifford!"
"No; but I learnt to look on the land to which my mother belonged, and
which she taught me to regard as a second home, from quite another
side."
"From the ideal side probably. Now I will not deny that this also
exists; but, on the whole, people are now sweeping away the ideal from
amongst us. There are only a few who still acknowledge it in word or
deed."
"Just on that account should the few gather round their threatened
colours, and venture life and blood for their sake!"
The phrase sounded rather peculiar in the mouth of a young girl, but
she was plainly understood. Again the dark eyes flashed, but this time
in unconcealed surprise.
"Ah! how flattering! A quotation from one of my own articles! You know
them then?"
"The journal with which you are connected is one of the greatest
political importance," said Jessie coolly. "It has always been read in
our house. But just because I know your articles, does it surprise me
that you were able to release yourself so easily and completely from
all the bonds which held you to your native country."
"You mean the duties to which I am bound by my connection with the
journal!" remarked Gustave. "There were certainly difficulties, but
they have been arranged according to my wishes. One journalist more or
less in Germany makes no difference, and my pen has been long since
replaced by another, and, no doubt, a better one."
Jessie pressed her lips together. This wilful misunderstanding angered
her inexpressibly, and she was still more annoyed at the persevering
gaze, which yet had nothing obtrusive, but strove to conceal itself
under the appearance of an animated conversation. In spite of this
Jessie had the sensation that her whole character was being thoroughly
studied, and this drove her by degrees from her reserve into a state of
irritation entirely foreign to her disposition.
"I did not know I had such an attentive reader on this side the ocean,"
Gustave continued, in the most amiable manner. "Since I have learnt the
fact, I should like to beg for your criticism. You have declared
already that you love my home like a second fatherland. May I, then,
reckon on your sympathy for all that my pen describes?"
"You have given up your literary career," remarked Jessie, "for a more
advantageous one."
"Yes; I yielded to the force of circumstances. That does not seem to be
judged favourably, but perhaps the author finds more grace in your eyes
than the future partner in the firm of Clifford and Company."
"At all events, I can admire the ease with which the one has been
metamorphosed into the other."
It was an annihilating look which accompanied the words, but Gustave
Sandow was not to be so easily annihilated. He bore the look calmly,
and his reply betrayed even a certain humour, which increased the
growing irritation of the young lady.
"The criticism is not a favourable one, I see. But that is just the
reason why I must hear it. You must not withhold your bad opinion from
me, Miss Clifford. I insist upon knowing my sentence."
"Without reserve?"
"Quite without reserve."
"Well, then, Mr. Sandow, I declare openly to you that I have read with
the fullest sympathy and admiration everything which came from your
pen, till the moment when you accepted your brother's proposal. I
should never have thought it possible. I thought that anyone who
devoted himself so entirely to his country as you did, who fought so
energetically for its rights, who summoned others so stirringly to
their duties, must also abide by the colours to which he had sworn
fealty, and dare not forsake them for mere fortune's sake. I could not
believe that the pen from which flowed such glowing words should serve
for the future to write figures, and only figures; that the undaunted
champion should of his own free-will throw down his weapons, and quit
the lists, to take a comfortable seat at the office desk. I doubted the
possibility till the moment of your arrival, and that I must at last
believe it--that is the bitterest disappointment of my life!"
Jessie felt herself to be drawn on by her excitement to insult the man
who sat before her, but she cared not for that. She saw in him only the
adversary, only the importunate suitor, whom she would keep at a
distance cost what it might. Let him feel in the first hour how deeply
she despised his selfishness, then there would be no room to doubt how
she felt about the marriage scheme, and she was safe from his wooing.
But he did not appear very sensitive to insult, for he maintained the
most perfect composure.
"Miss Clifford, for a merchant's daughter, and the sleeping partner in
a great mercantile house, you appear to nourish very disrespectful
ideas of accounts and the office desk," said he, with revolting
indifference. "My brother would be shocked. I feel myself extremely
flattered that my modest pen has had the power of awakening so much
interest, and as to the disappointment, I do not give up the hope of at
last succeeding in bringing you to a better opinion of my performances
at the office desk."
Jessie made no reply. She completely lost her self-control at this way
of turning affront into compliment, and at the smiling calm with which
the man[oe]uvre was carried out.
Fortunately at this moment the door opened, and Sandow entered.
"The telegrams are sent off," said he. "Now I am again at your
disposal. I suppose dinner will soon be ready, Jessie?"
"I have still some necessary orders to give, which I will do at once."
And hastily, as if taking to flight before the new arrival, but not
without casting on him another glance of contempt, she left the room.
"Well, what do you think of Jessie?" said Sandow, as soon as the
brothers were alone; "and what progress have you made with her?"
"Progress! Surely, Frank, you did not quite expect me to make her a
proposal of marriage at the first interview!"
"But at least you might lead the way to it."
"The way has opened most successfully," Gustave assured him. "We have
already had a most lively dispute."
"Dispute! What do you mean?" and Sandow, who had seated himself near
his brother, looked up as if he could hardly believe his ears. "Is that
the way you begin your courtship?"
"Why not? At least it prevents indifference. That I certainly need not
fear from Miss Clifford. She is prejudiced against me to the highest
degree, and looks upon my leaving my country at your call as a kind of
treachery against it."
"Yes, the girl has her head full of romantic ideas," said Sandow
angrily. "That is owing to the sentimental, high-flown education she
received from her mother. Clifford could not be induced to oppose it,
although otherwise his understanding was healthy enough. He idolized
his only daughter, and thought her everything that is good and
beautiful. You will have to contend with these exaggerated ideas when
Jessie is your wife."
Around Gustave Sandow's lips played a half ironical smile as he
replied--
"Do you, then, think it is a settled thing that she will become my
wife? At present I seem to have the most brilliant prospects of
refusal."
"Stupid girlish whims! nothing more. She has taken it into her head
that marriage must be preceded by a love romance. But you"--and here
Sandow's eyes rested on his brother's handsome person--"it need not be
difficult for you to gain ground with her, and my authority will do the
rest. Jessie is far too dependent a character not to be led at last."
"Well, I have not seen any symptoms of this dependence myself,"
remarked Gustave drily. "Miss Clifford was tolerably energetic when she
gave me the flattering information that my acquaintance was one of the
bitterest disappointments of her life."
Sandow wrinkled his forehead.
"She told you that!"
"Literally, and accompanied the speech with the necessary air of
dislike and contempt. She is a quite peculiar mixture of maidenly
reserve and genuine American self-consciousness. In our country a young
girl would hardly have read a total stranger such a lecture."
"Oh! no; Jessie is thoroughly German," said Sandow. "She is the living
image of her mother, and has not a single trait of her American father.
But never mind that now. Let us come to the point. I never felt any
doubt as to your acceptance of my proposal; that it has taken place so
quickly and unreservedly is very agreeable to me, since it proves that,
in spite of all your idealistic scribbling, you have managed to
preserve a clear, cool head capable of making a calculation, which is
just what is wanted here. Jessie is in every respect a brilliant match,
such as you would scarcely have found under other circumstances. For
me, the first recommendation of the plan is that it will keep
Clifford's money in the firm. Our interests are therefore identical,
and I hope we shall be satisfied with each other."
"I hope so too," said Gustave laconically.
The purely business view taken by his brother of the projected marriage
seemed to surprise him as little as the judgment on his scribbling hurt
him.
"The arrangement, then, remains as settled in our letters," continued
Sandow. "For the present you enter the office as a volunteer in order
to learn your new calling. That is not difficult for anyone gifted with
the necessary education and intelligence. All beyond requires merely
habit and practice. As soon as your engagement with Jessie is openly
announced, you will have a share in the business. So don't delay your
explanation too long. As an heiress, Jessie is naturally much run
after, and in little more than a year she will be of age. Besides, at
the present moment I have some large undertakings in view, and must be
certain of complete control over the whole capital."
"And therefore Miss Clifford and I must marry," added Gustave. "One
sees that you are accustomed to make the most of a fortunate
conjuncture, whether of men or dollars."
There was a touch of mockery in these words, but Sandow did not appear
to notice it. In his reply lay the same icy indifference which he had
displayed in his conversation with Jessie.
"One must reckon with men as with figures; in that lies the whole
secret of success. At all events, you have every reason to thank the
present conjuncture. Besides all the other advantages, it secures my
money to you. You know I have no other relative or heir."
"No other! Really?" asked Gustave in a peculiar tone, while he gazed
fixedly at his brother.
"No!"
In that one short word what unbounded severity and determination!
"Then you have not altered your views. I thought that now years have
rolled by you might have learnt to look differently on the past."
"Silence!" interrupted Sandow. "Name it not! The past has no existence,
shall have no existence for me. I buried it when I left Europe for
ever."
"And the recollection of it too!"
"Certainly! and I will not have it recalled by others. You have already
attempted it several times in your letters, and I imagined my dislike
to the subject had been shown plainly enough. Why do you always return
to it? Is it to distress me, or"--here he fixed a threatening,
penetrating look on his brother--"does some scheme lie at the bottom of
this persistency?"
Gustave shrugged his shoulders slightly.
"Why should you think that? I asked in my own interests. Since the
question of inheritance is now before us, you can easily understand the
motive."
"Decidedly. You have become uncommonly practical I see, and it is much
better for you to have become so without paying the heavy price for
your experience which mine has cost me."
Gustave became suddenly serious, and laid his hand on his brother's
arm.
"Yes, Frank, a heavy price it must indeed have been, since it has made
you another man. I do not find a single trace of what you were at
home."
Sandow laughed bitterly.
"No, thank God! there is not much left of the soft-hearted fool who
lived for every one, who trusted every one, and in the end must pay the
price of his blind faith like a criminal. Whenever that blind
confidence has cost a man, as it has me, honour, happiness, nay,
existence itself, he will for the future manage his affairs after a
different fashion. But now, not another word of the past. I have cast
it from me; let it rest."
"Dinner is ready," announced a servant, throwing open the door.
The brothers rose; the turn the conversation had taken made any
interruption welcome to both. They entered the adjoining dining-room,
where Jessie already awaited them. Gustave had in a moment regained his
usual manner. He approached the young lady and offered her his arm as
if nothing in the world had come between them.
"Miss Clifford, I have the honour to introduce myself as a volunteer in
the house of Clifford and Company. I may, therefore, now regard you as
my second chief, and respectfully offer you my humble services."
And without paying any attention to the frigid manner of his second
chief, he took the arm which Jessie did not dare to refuse, and led her
to the table.